Astros 2, Reds 3
W: Francisco Cordero, L: Brandon Lyon

Recap and Boxscore
Game Zone

The Astros came into this game on a 3-game winning streak. Their longest win streak of the short season. This was a great game to watch. New starting pitcher for the Astros, Aneury Rodriguez , pitched 5 innings of 1-hit (which should have been an E9) and 1-walk baseball. Wilton Lopez, Fernando Abad, Mark Melancon and even Jeff Fulchino combined to pitched 3 innings of scoreless baseball.

The Astros hitter got 2 runs in the third off a JR Towles double, then a sacrifice by Rodriguez, a walk by Bourn, a single by Bourgeious, a single by Pence and a GiDP by Mr. Wallace to leave Bourgeious stranded on the bases.

Not much else happened offensively for the Astros.

The Reds were able to score 3 (because they didn’t need anymore) off of Brandon Lyon. He didn’t have a good outing. You can read the GameZone if you need more reaction.

The make up game from Monday’s rainout is today. You can read about it in Ebby Calvin’s preview or post in the GameZone’s Game Day Thread.

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!!! Have a drink for me.

Astros 5, Brewers Nada

WP Norris (2-1) | LP Narveson (1-2)

HR Caballo

Bud Norris was on top of his game Sunday, stifling the potent Brewer attack with a mixture of fastballs and darting sliders. Pitching to the strike zone, with an unhittable slider, he struck out 11 and scattered three hits and three walks.

Carlos Lee singled and scored on Bill Hall’s hit in the second and had a three-run jack in the sixth off of a hanging breaking ball. Later, Lee took an Angel Sanchez flying kneedrop to the chest in the eighth on a tweener and was taken to the hospital for X-rays and scans. He’s bruised but not broken, and is day to day.

Fulchino, Abad and Melancon finished up, throwing nine pitches each.

Bin Laden is dead.

Meanwhile, Wandy Rodriguez finally pitches a really good game.   And gets vultured by Lyon.

ASTROS 2, BREWERS 1
Saturday April 30, 2011
MMPUS

HOUSTON (SnS) — In a close contest, the Houston Astros held on long enough to defeat the scary Milwaukee Brewers here Saturday night, 2-1. In a rare night of dominance by starting pitchers, lefties Wandy Rodriguez and former Astro Randy Wolf hooked up in what turned out to be a classic duel.Read More

The night was not one that Brett Myers will write in his diary as “had a good night, had a blast shutting down opposing team, I am a good person”.  But you cannot blame the burly right handed ace of the team, no pitcher for the Houston Astros seems to be doing anything of worth lately.  Yes, the name of the game is still pitching and defense with just enough hitting.  None of the three happened on this Friday Night of fireworks, provided entirely by the Milwaukee Brewers by the way, as the local nine lost 5 to zip.  Hey, the buffet was good though!

There is seriously nothing to say about the game other than you had one spectacular play by Michael Bourn in centerfield as he tackled Tal’s Hill to make a catch.  Oh, yeah, there was another “man versus a mountain” moment in the game when Brett Wallace took on the on-charging Prince Fielder in a game of chicken.  Brett stayed in and of course paid the price to the tune of a hip contusion and a whole lotta nightmares for several years.  Speaking of nightmares, can it get any worse for the struggling Houston pitching staff?  Night after night of facing off with outstanding batsmen has to take it’s toll on the psyche of this bunch and it shows the way they are performing.

Oh well, you just hope one night the pitching will come back, the defense will solidify, the hitting will continue, Pence will actually listen to someone, and Brett Wallace will stop trying to tackle a runawaytrain.  Is that too much to ask of this bunch?

Cards 11, Astros 7
W: McClellan (4-0) L: Abad (1-2) SV: Salas (1)

Boxscore and Recap

I knew I was going to miss this game due to a prior commitment, so I had recorded it. There was no suspense when I watched it, in fast forward, because I had read the GameZone. Just like watching a train wreck, I watched the Cardinals win the game in the 6th inning. All they needed was that one inning. The Astros scored 7 runs in 9 innings, but it was not enough to cover for that one inning.

I would also like to point out that Jose Valdez pitched two scoreless innings to get his healthy ERA down to 9.00. I am unsure how Fernando only has two losses and an ERA of 4.15. I guess all the runs crossing the plate aren’t his. I do wonder if he realizes he is suppose to prevent them from scoring??

On March 31st, I shared some observations for anyone willing to read them. I had just attended the exhibition game the Astros played against the Red Sox. I stand 1000% behind what I said about Pence.

RF – Hunter Pence – Ugh. I for the life of me cannot understand why fans love him. He looks HORRID in the field. I have a feeling Hunter will do enough to maintain the FotF tag he’s been given but I really think it needs to go to someone else.

One thing I have noticed of late that Hunter does is run into the HEB sign in right field. He is so ball-to-the-wall (or whatever it is you guys say) on those plays that he is like a cartoon character hitting the wall. I think those hits have addled his brain.

In regard to Lance Berkman, I have no kind thoughts for him. I understand he is doing what he has to do in order to stay in the game. I just wish he had wanted to stay in the game when the Astros had him under contract. Then again, I’m really not disappointed he is gone. Mr. Wallace is doing okay at 1B and I think the slugging is going to start coming around. He seems to have gotten comfortable around the plate. Now things are going to get interesting.